IREDELL-STATESVILLE SCHOOLS GUIDELINES FOR MANAGING
STUDENTS WITH SEVERE ALLERGIES
Healthy, Safe, Orderly, and Caring Schools is one of the Strategic Priorities of the
Iredell-Statesville School System. We realize that the health and well-being of our
students is vital to being successful in school. We acknowledge the fact that severe
allergies can be life threatening and will use these guidelines to assist us in working with
students, parents, and physicians to minimize the risks and provide a safe educational
environment for our severe allergic students.
Family’s Responsibility
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Notify the school nurse and/or principal of the child’s allergy
Work with the school team to develop a plan that accommodates the child’s needs
throughout the school day including the classroom, cafeteria, Prime-Time, schoolsponsored activities, and on the school bus, as well as a Severe Allergy
Emergency Action Plan
Provide the school with emergency contact information
Provide written medical documentation, instructions, and medications as directed
by a physician,
Provide the school with up-to-date emergency medications to be stored in a secure
location as decided by the school allergy team and parents
Educate the child in self-management of their severe allergy including:
*safe and unsafe foods
*strategies for avoiding exposure to unsafe foods or allergens
*symptoms of allergic reactions
*how and when to tell an adult they may be having an allergy-related
problem
*how to read food labels (age appropriate)
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Review the guidelines/procedures with the school staff, the child’s physician, and
the child (if age appropriate) after a reaction has occurred.
School’s Responsibility
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Be knowledgeable about and follow applicable federal laws including ADA,
IDEA, Section 504, and FERPA and any NC laws or district policies or guidelines
that apply
Review the health records submitted by parents and physicians
Include severe allergic students in school activities. Students should not be
excluded from school activities solely based on their severe allergy.
Identify a school allergy team of, but not limited to the school nurse, teacher,
principal, and child nutrition manager to work with parents and the student (age
appropriate) to establish a prevention plan. Changes to the prevention plan to
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promote severe allergy management should be made with the school allergy
team’s participation
Assure that all staff who interact with the student on a regular basis understands
the severe allergy, can recognize symptoms, knows what to do in an emergency,
and works with other staff to reduce the risk of exposure of severe allergens in the
allergic student’s meals, educational tools, arts and crafts projects, or incentives.
Reviews the Severe Food or Sting Emergency Action Plan before an allergic
reaction occurs to assure the efficiency/effectiveness of the plan.
Coordinate with the school nurse to be sure that emergency medications (provided
by the parent) are ordered by a physician and stored properly. The epinephrine
will be stored in a location agreed upon by the school allergy team and parents.
Severe allergic students are allowed to carry their own epinephrine or emergency
medications, if age appropriate, after approval from the student’s physician,
parent and school nurse.
Designated school personnel will be properly trained to administer medications in
accordance with the NC Nursing and Good Samaritan Laws governing the
administration of emergency medications
Be prepared to handle a reaction and ensure that there is a staff member available
who is properly trained to administer medications during the school day, school
bus, and/or after school care.
Review the guidelines/procedure plan with the school allergy team members,
parents/guardians, student (age appropriate), and physician after a reaction has
occurred
Work with the district transportation administrator to assure that school bus driver
training includes symptom awareness and what to do if a reaction occurs
Recommend that all buses have communication devices in case of an emergency
Enforce a “no eating” policy on school buses with exceptions made only to
accommodate special needs under federal and state laws and ISS guidelines (ex.
Students with Diabetes would be allowed to eat if blood sugar was low).
Discuss field trips with the family of the severe allergic child to decide
appropriate strategies for managing the allergy
Follow federal/state/district laws and regulations regarding sharing medical
information about the student
Take threats or harassment against an allergic child seriously
Student’s Responsibility
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Learn to recognize symptoms and take them seriously in early stages
Take as much responsibility for avoiding allergens as possible, based on
developmental level, including participation in planning the allergy action plan
Learn to read labels
Do not trade or share food
Wash hands before and after eating
Promptly inform an adult if you suspect that you have contacted an allergen
Develop trusting friendships with peers and ask them for help if needed
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Report teasing or harassment immediately
Carry own Epinephrine and demonstrate competency if age appropriate
It is impossible to create a peanut-free or allergen-free environment. To create the
illusion that the school environment is free of allergens would be misleading and
potentially harmful. Instead, these guidelines have been designed to increase
awareness and communication, to prevent possible exposure to known allergens,
and to create an emergency procedure for allergic reactions.